tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762827614191702843.post644708312046078512..comments2014-12-31T01:17:26.810+00:00Comments on Jack of Kent: Libel Law Has No Place In Scientific DisputesJack of Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519002603649560097noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762827614191702843.post-24972494601839419102009-06-10T21:11:09.392+01:002009-06-10T21:11:09.392+01:00Ha. U scientists seem to think you are above the l...Ha. U scientists seem to think you are above the law. the dark ages is over and your fight against religion was over centuries ago. I guess this gives you all something to bitch about but none of you are above the law and this has nothing to do with freedom of speech but more your arrogance. Karma is a bitch and will find you all out. ha ha....ganjanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762827614191702843.post-75715493537007522162009-06-06T19:55:51.358+01:002009-06-06T19:55:51.358+01:00I think that &quot; a rebalancing between plaintif...I think that &quot; a rebalancing between plaintiff and defendant&quot; will not help.<br />American libel law has this &quot;rebalancing&quot;, but skeptics suffer yet because of this &quot;more right&quot; law.<br />Barret&amp;Polevoy&#39;s case is an example of it.<br /><br />It is necessary to abolish libel law at all.SVETLANA PERTSOVICHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13580114067397616251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762827614191702843.post-38502876604920408522009-06-05T20:28:17.389+01:002009-06-05T20:28:17.389+01:00Hmm. Thinks.
there might possibly be a reason why...Hmm. Thinks.<br /><br />there might possibly be a reason why so very few lawyers have signed up to this...<br /><br />The ruling from Eady looks pretty robust. If this goes to Appeal, it just racks up the costs that Singh will end up paying out. <br /><br />I also find the letter quite misleading; it suggests Singh is being penalised for discussing science, which is clearly untrue. He is in trouble because Eady has held that his words accuse the BCA of dishonesty and thoroughly disreputable conduct. That is not a scientific issue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762827614191702843.post-31184825133908222912009-06-05T14:10:21.575+01:002009-06-05T14:10:21.575+01:00I am actually surprised that more lawyers and law ...I am actually surprised that more lawyers and law practitioners haven&#39;t signed it, as both the burden of proof and the fact that the judge can decide upon semantics contrary to someone&#39;s expressed meaning of the word used, not letting the defendant use this as evidence in a full trial, seems to clash with basic principles in most modern legal systems....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762827614191702843.post-13692211063808404312009-06-05T08:15:38.575+01:002009-06-05T08:15:38.575+01:00Simon Singh has shown great courage in deciding to...Simon Singh has shown great courage in deciding to appeal. This courage is an example to us all.<br /><br />Let&#39;s hope this case serves as a catalyst for the reform of the English libel laws.<br /><br />The amount of bad publicity this is generating for the BCA reminds me of the McLibel case.Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12660694900865071529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762827614191702843.post-10637500906003266442009-06-05T04:52:08.405+01:002009-06-05T04:52:08.405+01:00fantastic, although the times&#39; headline is dis...fantastic, although the times&#39; headline is disappointing and very shortsighted: &quot;Review of libel law called for by comedians&quot;...Andrew MWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762827614191702843.post-81997199643191732272009-06-05T01:52:13.959+01:002009-06-05T01:52:13.959+01:00Professor Doctor Beda Stadler raised an interestin...Professor Doctor Beda Stadler raised an interesting and telling parallel with medieval jurisprudence.<br /><br />What Simon endured was, in my opinion, more akin to the ancient &#39;trial by ordeal&#39; of the Spanish Inquisition than a vaguely modern hearing in the 21st C.<br /><br />In that vein, <i>surely</i> he can appeal to the Monarch as an appropriately medieval response?<br />(Although her son&#39;s publicly demonstrated attitudes to vapid woo-woo might make one wary of such an approach!)<br /><br />P.S.: You will have noticed that Chiropractors across the globe have been out <i>in droves</i>, publishing and presenting their &#39;plethora&#39; of the efficacy of their magic back-crack non-bogus cures for the list of ailments that the BCA have promoted and continue to allow to be promoted.<br /><br /><b>Or maybe you haven&#39;t?</b>Michael Kingsford Graynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762827614191702843.post-18366330645711290012009-06-04T22:48:05.852+01:002009-06-04T22:48:05.852+01:00I find it strange that the word &#39;bogus&#39; no...I find it strange that the word &#39;bogus&#39; now has a scientific meaning. Simon&#39;s problem is that he understands the power of words and he still chose to use words that were unscientific and provocative. Being in a position where he can influence the public in such a way means he also has the responsibility to take care with the words he choses to use. If he had stated the believed facts of there being no evidence for the treatment then the BCA would not have had any reason to take this action. Perhaps this is a lesson to all of us to temper our language to the audience, what is ok for a sceptic blog is not ok for main stream publication.Graham Pnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762827614191702843.post-55866168657890358602009-06-04T22:13:08.555+01:002009-06-04T22:13:08.555+01:00Paul Browne: Simon Singh has stated that with rega...Paul Browne: Simon Singh has stated that with regards to funding, he&#39;d rather funds went to support the next case of someone less able to bear the cost than himself. You can read his excellent, restrained and well-thought-out post <a href="http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/index.php/site/project/340" rel="nofollow">here</a>.<br /><br />Richard King: thank you for summing up exactly what Simon Singh and scientists would like, and what the BCA would do anything to prevent, i.e. &quot;sensible, mature dialogue and engagement&quot;. If the BCA had any evidence to support their success, or indeed prove any ill effects they&#39;ve suffered from Singh&#39;s defamation - which must be far worse now than when people read Singh&#39;s article - I&#39;m sure they&#39;d be mature enough to produce it. <br /><br />Thanks Jack of Kent, I&#39;d never seen your blog before and will keep reading!Alicehttp://aliceingalaxyland.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762827614191702843.post-81484223341932852392009-06-04T22:03:04.716+01:002009-06-04T22:03:04.716+01:00I have written the following to local chiropractor...I have written the following to local chiropractors whose addresses i found on the web/in local directories. Please feel free to use it, it may just help:<br />Dear Sir,<br />I am writing to you, as I believe you both practice locally and are a member of the BCA.<br />As you are probably aware, your Association has recently sued Simon Singh. He is a respected science journalist who was awarded an MBE in 2003 for his services to Science, Technology and Engineering in Education and Science Communication.<br />He used the word “bogus” in describing Chiropractic and your organisation, instead of reasonably, intelligently and maturely debating the issue, used its institutional financial muscle to try to silence a doubter. This is rank bullying of the worst kind.<br />I suspect, and hope, that you have the decency to at least feel uncomfortable about your Association’s behaviour. <br />You may also recognise how this behaviour is reflecting very badly on the public’s perception of Chiropractors and will certainly backfire on your profession in the long run.<br />Can I urge you to call on your Association to drop this case and defend itself with truth and reason and to behave in a decent manner for the good of us all.Chris Wrightnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762827614191702843.post-38350043020619458032009-06-04T20:57:39.745+01:002009-06-04T20:57:39.745+01:00I got 10 hits on Google News alerts for &#39;Briti...I got 10 hits on Google News alerts for &#39;British Chiropractic Association&#39; this morning. Their reputation spreads...UK, USA, India.Zenohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419783839561343514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762827614191702843.post-83305300508363378972009-06-04T19:32:24.068+01:002009-06-04T19:32:24.068+01:00Doesnt it remind you of a simpson&#39;s episode wh...Doesnt it remind you of a simpson&#39;s episode where Homer goes against the chiropracters?GEOFFnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762827614191702843.post-1266204089961120192009-06-04T19:05:29.394+01:002009-06-04T19:05:29.394+01:00Do you know how many of us ordinary folk have sign...Do you know how many of us ordinary folk have signed as well?<br /><br />Will the number and eminence of the signatories make any difference to the case?TKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02054609141955914429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762827614191702843.post-27516008746893640292009-06-04T13:22:31.340+01:002009-06-04T13:22:31.340+01:00This story struggled to find space in the mainstre...This story struggled to find space in the mainstream media, until today. Now it&#39;s hit the <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124406714025182743.html" rel="nofollow">Wall street Journal!</a>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026511553591079915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762827614191702843.post-91825703557025553652009-06-04T12:44:48.832+01:002009-06-04T12:44:48.832+01:00The list of signatories, and their comments, is no...The list of signatories, and their comments, is nothing short of wonderful :-)Graemehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04985919403811099014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762827614191702843.post-47985116211563127692009-06-04T12:43:22.167+01:002009-06-04T12:43:22.167+01:00Signed.Signed.HDBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06384565256819352617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762827614191702843.post-85803307227038986962009-06-04T10:57:51.941+01:002009-06-04T10:57:51.941+01:00This is good news, it&#39;s refreshing to see the ...This is good news, it&#39;s refreshing to see the scientific community rally around Simon Singh.<br /><br />Appeals cost money though, is there a legal fund to which we can contribute? I seem to remember that therewas one but I can&#39;t find it now.Paul Brownehttp://www.raisingvoices.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762827614191702843.post-5862095613608570662009-06-04T10:52:01.350+01:002009-06-04T10:52:01.350+01:00This is really excellent! It&#39;s good to see the...This is really excellent! It&#39;s good to see the case getting the coverage and response it deserves!<br /><br />I can&#39;t imagine the BCA being able to come up with something similar.<br /><br />Great job for keeping this issue in the public eye!Chris Kavanaghhttp://godknowswhat.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762827614191702843.post-59252692314642087902009-06-04T10:39:55.966+01:002009-06-04T10:39:55.966+01:00Brilliant. Reading that long list of distinguished...Brilliant. Reading that long list of distinguished signatories and their comments has made my day.<br /><br />Here&#39;s the link if you want to add your support to this statement:<br /><br />http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/index.php/site/project/334AndyNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02921496600562077913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762827614191702843.post-14727320515762904482009-06-04T09:58:56.772+01:002009-06-04T09:58:56.772+01:00So, with the initial ruling now under appeal, woul...So, with the initial ruling now under appeal, would it be fair to say the BCA can no longer claim vindication?Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026511553591079915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762827614191702843.post-37185723487482495402009-06-04T09:52:48.076+01:002009-06-04T09:52:48.076+01:00Great news! Glad people are still willing to fight...Great news! Glad people are still willing to fight the good fight.Zachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01545279004826698402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762827614191702843.post-6607497549545366642009-06-04T09:13:25.713+01:002009-06-04T09:13:25.713+01:00That looks like playing well with the public; scie...That looks like playing well with the public; scientists, like politicians and some others, seeking to be above the law. There is already a very strong perception of arrogance in modern science, with vociferous populists contributing mightily to that. This seems to be a continuation of that trend.<br /><br />The above comment is more observation than judgement but I can see many taking it as the latter. Sensible, mature dialogue and engagement seems to be alien to modern science and part of the overall arrogance.Richard King (Chartered Engineer, Healer, Havant)http://www.rlkassociates.co.uknoreply@blogger.com